TIME TO LOOK BEYOND SUNIL CHHETRI, SAYS CONSTANTINE

NEW DELHI: Lamenting the injury to veteran forward Sunil Chhetri, which keeps the Bengaluru FC skipper out of the international football friendly against Jordan in Amman this Saturday, India coach Stephen Constantine said the national team must prepare for life without its 34-year-old record goalscorer.

“Sunil missing is a blow. He has been fantastic in the last few years for me. It’s an opportunity for younger players to step up. I don’t think you can replace a player of his calibre but somebody has to fill his shoes,” he told reporters here on Wednesday.

“Sunil is not a spring chicken anymore and there will be a day when he is not there. We have to find somebody who will be there when he is gone so we don’t have a void,” he added. Asked about reports of dressing room unrest in the team, Constantine said there is no friction between him and any player in the squad. “I only care about what my players say. If there’s an issue, the players, the captains come and speak to me,” he said. With the AFC Asian Cup in less than two months’ time – this will be India’s second appearance at the continental tournament since 1984 – Constantine also stressed on the need to play strong opponents. “I would like about four or five (games) between now and then. ”

CHURCHILL-LAJONG TIE

Panaji:churchill Brothers will be in search of their first win in the I-league this season when they host Shillong Lajong on Thursday. The Goan outfit has drawn all three of its games so far, leaving it level on points with Lajong.

Shillong, however, have played a game more and lost its last three games after opening the campaign with a 2-1 win over Aizawl FC.